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Chetco Divide Trail #1210
This is essentially a ridge top trail (elevation remains fairly constant near 4,000 foot) which offers panoramic views of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and the surrounding area. The trail is rough and rocky for the most part with little water in late summer. Springs are located down a short quarter mile access trails east of Red Mountain and at Doe Gap. By continuing on from Doe Gap, one can traverse the entire Wilderness area from west to east and choose a different return route.
This is one of the more open and scenic of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness trails at the southern edge of the Chetco Wild and Scenic River drainage. Trail ends at Doe Gap (Junction with Kalmiopsis Rim Trail and North Fork Smith River Trail #1233).
Nearby camping is available at Red Mountain Prairie Campground (area is unavailable) which you drive past on the way to the trailhead.
This trail is located in an area that has burned in the Biscuit (2002), Chetco Bar (2017) and Klondike (2018) Fires. Although Forest Service trail crews and partner groups have been repairing and maintaining many of the affected trails following the fires, visitors should take into consideration (because of the substantially increased risk of fire-killed snags falling) that travel and camping may be more difficult and require greater concern for safety.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Visitors to the Kalmiopsis Wilderness should be advised that trail conditions may vary, depending on the level of maintenance performed in the years after the Biscuit (2002), Chetco Bar (2017) and Klondike (2018) Fires. Due to the scales of these fires, and the rugged and remote conditions in the Kalmiopsis, trail work, while ongoing, has not been performed on all the trails within the fire perimeters. Visitors may find downed trees across the trails, dense vegetation where shrubs have grown in after the fire, and unmarked trail junctions in some places. Please check with the Gold Beach or Wild Rivers Ranger Districts before your visit for trail conditions. Additionally, you can visit the Siskiyou Mountain Club's page, a local group who performs much of the trail maintenance in wilderness areas. |
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| Open Season: | Spring |
| Usage: | Light |
| Restrictions: | Wilderness regulations apply |
| Closest Towns: |
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| Water: | Not available. Surface water should be treated. |
| Information Center: | Gold Beach Ranger District |
General Information
Directions:April 2021: There is currently a landslide that is blocking Forest Road 1909 at the lower reaches, and it is expected that the slide will take some time to clear out. Please use the following detour to reach Vulcan Lake.
DETOUR DIRECTIONS (SPRING 2021 Update): From Brookings, Oregon, at Highway 101 take County Road 784 (North Bank Chetco River Road), which eventually becomes Forest Road 1376. Continue on Forest Road 1376 crossing the bridge over the South Fork of the Chetco and turning left to continue on Forest Road 1376 for another ¾ of a mile to a right-hand turn onto Forest Road 1917 (unsigned!). Continue on 1917 for 12 miles then making a left-hand turn onto Forest Road 1909. Continue 5.5 miles on Forest Road 1909 to the Chetco Divide/Vulcan Peak Trailhead.
Know Before You Go: The last three miles of this route is rutted and poorly maintained. Moderate clearance vehicles can make the journey but low clearance vehicles will have significant issues.
Note: Snow is often blocking the road just short of the Chetco Divide/Vulcan Peak Trailhead into late spring.
When the slide is cleared, resume using this route:
From Brookings, Oregon, take Highway 101 south for 0.5 mile and go left on County Road 784 (North Bank Chetco River Road) and follow for about 15 miles. Then stay left on Forest Road 1376. Take a right onto Forest Road 1909 (Red Mountain Road). Follow Forest Road 1909 to Forest Road 1909-261 and follow the 261 spur to the trailhead.
General Notes:
- Connecting trails: Red Mountain Trail #1105, Kalmiopsis Rim Trail #1124, and North Fork Smith River #1233
- USGS Map: Chetco Peak
- USGS Map: Josephine Mountain
Activities
Day Hiking
| Difficulty Level: | More Difficult |
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Horse Riding
| Difficulty Level: | More Difficult |
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